Rickert



March 24, 1964 RlcKERT POSTURE BOARDS Filed Sept. 15, 1961 v/ II 11\ United States Patent 3,125,768 POSTURE BOARDS Edward Rickert, 1240 Greenwood, Blue Island, Ill. Filed Sept. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 138,457 Claims. (Cl. 5-317) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in posture boards.

More specifically the board constituting my invention is especially designed for positioning beneath a bed mattress or the like for the purpose of maintaining the mat-tress or the like in a substantially non-sagging condition, thereby providing a sleeping surface which is sufficiently firm to assure proper posture and support of the user.

An object of my invention is to provide a posture board of the class described herein, which is portable, in that when not in use it may be folded into a compact condition for storage and to facilitate carrying the same about.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed showing the posture board in applied position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the underside of the posture board;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal edge View of the posture board taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the posture board in folded condition.

The several objects of my invention are preferably accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. In such drawings, my improved posture board comprises two main sections and 11. These sections 10 and 11 are of the same dimension and when in use extend in longitudinal relation with respect to each other. The abutting edges 12 of the board sections 10 and 1 1 are connected together by a hinge 13 of any approved construction. By means of this hinge 13, the board sections 10 and 11 may be folded upon one another as shown in FIG. 5.

The board sections '10 and 11 each have spaced aligned openings -14 formed therein, the openings being arranged in parallel relation adjacent the long edges of the board sections. Such openings are of the bayonet slot type, each comprising communicating openings of different diameters.

Arranged to overlap the abutting end portions of the main boards 10 and 11 on opposite sides of the hinge 1B is a retaining board '15. This retaining board 15 is of a width substantially the same as the width of the main boards 10 and 11 and overlaps each of the boards 10 and 11 on opposite sides of the hinge 12 a substantial distance. The retaining board 15 along opposite long edges thereof has secured thereto headed studs 16 which are adapted to be received by the bayonet slots 14 to provide removable connection between the retaining board 15 and the board sections 10 and 11.

When the retaining board 15 is in the position shown in FIGS. -1, 2 and 3, such board serves to maintain the board sections 10 and 11 in flat alignment with respect to each other and restrains such board sections at their hinge connection from sagging. By this arrangement, the board sections 10 and 11 are maintained in a firm, fiat and aligned condition and in turn serve to firmly support the mattress in a like condition.

When the posture board is disposed beneath a mattress or the like, the mattress will be prevented from sagging, thus providing a firm, non-sagging supporting surface, resulting in proper sleeping posture.

To store or conveniently carry about the posture board, the retaining board 15 is removed from its overlapping position with respect to the main board sections 10 and 1'1 and is attached to one of the board sections, for example, section 11 as shown in the drawings. To accomplish this, bayonet slots 17 are formed in the board section 11 to receive the corresponding headed studs of the retaining board 15. Upon removal of the retaining board from the overlapping position with respect to the board sections 10 and 11, such board sections 10 and 11 may be folded in confronting relation with respect to each other. The retaining board 15, when the sections 10 and 11 are in folded condition, is carried upon the board section 11.

A0 facilitate carrying the posture board about when in folded condition, there are provided hand holes 18 in the sections 10 and 11 which register with respect to each other when the sections 10 and 11 are in folded condition. A suitable snap fastener 19 may be provided for releasably retaining the board sections 10 and 11 in such folded condition.

A posture board constructed in accordance with the description herein, when not in use, may be stored in a storage room, closet or the like. It may be transported about by placing the same in the trunk of an automobile, if desired, and may be conveniently used when traveling away from home, or in institutions such as hospitals or the like.

The board sections 10 and 11 as well as the retaining board 15 may be formed of such material as will best serve the purpose.

The construction of my posture board is relatively simple, resulting in manufacture at a relatively low cost.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A posture board comprising two board sections adapted when in use to be arranged in substantial alignment with respect to each other with adjacent edge portions in abutting relation, a hinge connecting the abutting edge portions of said board sections together, a retaining board of substantially the same width as the width of the board sections and adapted when said board sections are in use to be positioned upon said board sections in overlapping relation with respect thereto over and on opposite sides of the long axis of said hinge, and bayonet slot and stud means for detachably connecting said retaining board to said board sections.

2. A posture board comprising two board sections adapted when in use to be arranged in substantial alignment with respect to each other with adjacent edge portions in abutting relation, a hinge connecting the abutting edge portions of said board sections together, a retaining board of substantially the same width as the width of the board sections and adapted when said board sections are in use to be positioned upon said board sections in overlapping relation with respect thereto over and on opposite sides of the long axis of said hinge, said board sections having bayonet slots formed therein and said retaining board having head-bearing studs engageable in said slots for connecting said retaining board in said overlapping position to said board sections.

3. A posture board comprising two board sections adapted when in use to be arranged in substantial alignment with respect to each other with adjacent edge portions in abutting relation, a. hinge connecting the abutting edge portions of said board sections together, a retaining board of substantially the same width as the Width of the board sections and adapted When said board sections are in use to be positioned upon said board sections in overlapping relation with respect thereto on opposite sides of said hinge, said board sections having bayonet slots formed therein and said retaining board having head-bearing studs engageable in said slots for connecting said retaining board in said overlapping position to said board sections, one of said board sections having additional bayonet slots formed therein and said retaining board when not in use having its head-bearing studs projected through the additional bayonet slots of said one board section for mounting thereon, said board sections being folded in confronting relation with respect to each other when said retaining board is mounted on said one board section.

4. A posture board comprising two board sections adapted when in use to be arranged in substantial alignment with respect to each other with adjacent edge portions in abutting relation, a hinge connecting the abut-ting edge portions of said board sections together, a retaining board of substantially the same width as that of the board sections and adapted when said board sections are in use to be positioned upon said board sections in overlapping relation with respect thereto on opposite sides of said hinge, said board sections having bayonet slots formed therein and said retaining board having headbearing studs engageable in said slots for connecting said retaining board in said overlapping position to said board sections, one of said board sections having additional bayonet slots formed therein and said retaining board when not in use having its head-bearing studs projected through the additional bayonet slots in said one board section for mounting thereon, said board sections being folded in confronting relation with respect to each other When said retaining board is mounted on said one board section, and snap fastening means for releasably connecting said board sections in said confronting relation with respect to each other.

5. A posture board comprising two board sections adapted when in use to be arranged in substantial alignment with respect to each other with adjacent edge portions in abutting relation, a hinge connecting the abutting edge portions of said board sections together, a retaining board of substantially the same width as that of the board sections and adapted when said board sections are in use to be positioned upon said board sections in overlapping rrelation with respect thereto on opposite sides of said hinge, said board sections having bayonet slots formed therein and said retaining boar-d having headbearing studs engageable in said slots for connecting said retaining board in said overlapping position to said board sections, one of said board sections having additional bayonet slots formed therein and said retaining board when not in use having its head-bearing studs projected through the bayonet slots of said one board section for mounting thereon, said board sections being folded in confronting relation with respect to each other when said retaining board is mounted on said one board section, and snap fastening means for releasably connecting said board sections in said confronting relation with respect to each other, each of said board sections having hand holes therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 158,336 Tiernann Dec. 29, 1874 2,791,476 Atwill r May 7, 1957 2,885,695 Feezel et a1. May 12, 1959 

1. A POSTURE BOARD COMPRISING TWO BOARD SECTIONS ADAPTED WHEN IN USE TO BE ARRANGED IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WITH ADJACENT EDGE PORTIONS IN ABUTTING RELATION, A HINGE CONNECTING THE ABUTING EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID BOARD SECTIONS TOGETHER, A RETAINING BOARD OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WIDTH AS THE WIDTH OF THE BOARD SECTIONS AND ADAPTED WHEN SAID BOARD SECTIONS ARE IN USE TO BE POSITIONED UPON SAID BOARD SECTIONS IN OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH RESPECT THERETO OVER AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LONG AXIS OF SAID HINGE, AND BAYONET SLOT AND STUD MEANS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID RETAINING BOARD TO SAID BOARD SECTIONS. 